The University of Alaska regents believe that “the opportunity for faculty, staff and students to participate in the governance of the university is important to its effective operation.” UAF Staff Council is your “opportunity” to participate in governance and contribute to the future of our university.

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Tuesday, February 21, 2012

* UA Policy and Regulations are up for review – the policy about staff governance is being heavily reviewed.
* There is movement in the unionizing effort. View the website (click here)
* Working to ensure the grievance procedures are more transparent
* Rural Affairs Committee has submitted a motion relating to geographic differential at UAF. It passed unanimously and will be forwarded to Staff Alliance.

Staff Alliance is currently working on the Tobacco Free Hiring proposal and the Tuition Benefit Change. There will be major details coming in March. The general consensus is that UA is moving towards a tobacco free campus.

* The committee is currently looking for ideas on afternoon sessions.
* There are budget issues because this year there are 141 longevity awards
* For those campuses outside of Fairbanks, the committee has provided funding for staff appreciation events in those communities
* To reduce costs E-live instead of Web Streaming will be used this year
* Assistant Vice Chancellor for Administration Services is sponsoring the breakfast.

* Staff Appreciation and Professional Development
* These programs have developed tremendously and have provided many opportunities for employees.
* Supervisor Training
What can be approved upon?
Providing a general survey to new employees
Reviewing on how to make this available to any staff interested in a supervisor position
* Communication is ever improving with UAF Staff Council taking a proactive role
* How do we, as a campus, become more safety minded? UAF is looking to do more than just meet the OSHA standards. Anyone who has ideas or concerns about safety or how to help UAF become safety minded contact Dan White as he is the chair of the ADHOC Safety Committee.
* Cost effectiveness – worker claims
* Educational – desire to have students leave UAF with safety as an automatic awareness. Example: On the North Slope, safety is the main concern and that is why they are able to have long periods of no loss time.
* Safety of employees

UAF received three recommendations by the accreditation committee.
• Better connect budget to university themes
• Better connect planning to university themes
• Assess university procedures

The UAF Accreditation Committee is looking to revise UAF’s Mission Statement. The current statement says who we are and a mission statement should say what we do and why we do it. Any mission statement has to be approved by the Board of Regents. If the mission statement is revised the current mission statement will be moved to the preamble. Any suggestions of changes can be sent to Dana Thomas and must be received by March 3, 2012.

There is also a need to possibly reduce or combine indicators by which UAF must collect data and report the to the accreditation committee. If you would like a complete list of Core Themes, Objectives, and Indicators as they were presented to UAF Staff Council contact Mary Sue Dates at 474-7566 or marysue@alaska.edu. Any suggestions of changes can be sent to Dana Thomas and must be received by April 13, 2012.

Current UAF Mission Statement: The University of Alaska Fairbanks, the nation’s northernmost Land, Sean and Space Grant university and international research center, advances and disseminates knowledge through teaching, research and public service with an emphasis on Alaska, the circumpolar North and their diverse peoples. UAF – America’s arctic university – promotes academic excellence, student success and lifelong learning.

Draft New UAF Mission Statement:The University of Alaska Fairbanks integrates teaching, research, and engagement, emphasizing the circumpolar north and its diverse peoples, as it educates students for careers, leading roles in their communities, and lifelong learning.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks integrates teaching, research, and engagement, emphasizing the circumpolar north and its diverse peoples, as it educates students, preparing them for life, careers, and leading roles in their communities.